HYDROSPHERE: RIVERS AND COASTS

Overview
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ Profile Energy Processes Formations (Landforms) Management

Hydrosphere Rivers River Profile River Energy Processes Landforms River Management Coasts Coastal Profile Wave Energy Processes Landforms Coastal Management

RIVERS

Introduction to Rivers
‡ Drainage basin ± an area drained by a river and its tributaries
± Also known as catchment area ± Defined by ridges (determines which river basin rainfall would flow into)

‡ Watershed ± an imaginary dividing line between 2 drainage basins

± Perimeter of drainage basin

Introduction to Rivers

Introduction to Rivers
‡ Drainage patterns
± Dendritic
‡ Tree-like pattern, tributaries join at acute angle

± Trellis
‡ Tributaries join at right angles

± Radial
‡ River flowing out of a central highland

± Centripetal
‡ River flowing inwards to a central depression

River Profile

River Energy
‡ Affected by:
± River velocity
‡ River gradient (steepness of slope) ‡ Channel roughness (presence of obstacles) ‡ Channel shape (wetted perimeter)

± River volume
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ Size of drainage basin Vegetation cover Permeability of rocks Rainfall Temperature

River Processes
‡ Erosion ‡ Transportation ‡ Deposition

River Erosion
‡ Corrasion
± Grinding of rock fragments against river bed and bank

‡ Attrition
± Eroded materials collide with each other to become smaller, rounder, smoother

‡ Solution
± Solvent action of river dissolves soluble minerals

‡ Hydraulic action
± Sheer force of water surges into joints and cracks, breaks and loosens the material, and sweeps it away

Factors Affecting Rate of Erosion

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ Velocity of river Volume of water Type of load Composition of river bed and bank
± Resistant VS less-resistant rocks

Landforms Formed from Erosion

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ Potholes Rapids Waterfalls + Plungepool Gorge